Freedom Day

**Freedom Day in Portugal (Dia da Liberdade)** Freedom Day, celebrated annually on **April 25**, commemorates the **Carnation Revolution** of 1974, a peaceful military coup that ended nearly five decades of authoritarian rule under the Estado Novo regime led by António de Oliveira Salazar and later Marcelo Caetano. The revolution, named for the carnations placed in soldiers' rifles by civilians, marked the beginning of democracy in Portugal and paved the way for civil liberties, free elections, and the decolonization of Portuguese territories in Africa. The day is a national holiday in Portugal, celebrated with ceremonies, concerts, and cultural events that honor the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. It serves as a reminder of the country's journey toward political and social progress, as well as its commitment to preserving the hard-won freedoms achieved on this historic day.